Council General Government Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The General Government Committee met on September 10, 2013, at 11:00 a.m., with Steve Kay presiding. The committee addressed five agenda items during the meeting, taking two votes and hearing two public comments.

Of the five items on the agenda, three received final action: the Approval of Summary was approved, Procedures for Underwriting or Sponsoring One of Our Facilities or Parks was approved, and Items Referred to Committee was approved. Two items were deferred for further consideration: the Relationship with the BGADD and Moving Human Resources Out of the Law Department.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on September 10, 2013:

• Linda Gorton
• Steve Kay
• Chris Ford
• Shevawn Akers
• Julian Beard
• Jennifer Scutchfield
• George Myers
• Harry Clarke
• Ed Lane

Diane Lawless was absent from the meeting. No attendees arrived late.

Votes and Decisions

The committee took two votes during this meeting, both of which passed unanimously.

Motion to Approve June 4, 2013 Committee Summary

A motion to approve the Committee summary from June 4, 2013 was made by Myers and seconded by Gorton. The motion passed unanimously with no abstentions.

Motion to Keep Department of Human Resources Issue in Committee

A motion to keep the issue of creating a Department of Human Resources in Committee for further study was made by Clarke and seconded by Gorton. The motion passed unanimously with no abstentions.

Public Comment

Two councilmembers addressed building security concerns during the public comment period.

Councilmember Clark 0:00 raised safety concerns regarding building security, specifically noting issues on the fifth floor and throughout the building. Clark suggested that building security be included on the agenda for the next meeting, recommending a presentation on current policies and future improvements.

Councilmember Akers 1:36 also addressed building security, recommending that the topic be added to the next meeting's agenda. Akers emphasized the need for a preliminary presentation on current policies before proceeding with further discussion about potential improvements.

Both councilmembers focused on the same topic and aligned in their recommendation to formally address building security at a subsequent meeting with a dedicated presentation.

Contested Items

Placement of Human Resources Division

The council experienced a split vote regarding the organizational placement of the Human Resources Division. Some members questioned the rationale for maintaining Human Resources under the Law Department, while others supported the current structure. Rather than proceeding with a vote to move the division, the council decided to defer the issue for further study. This approach allowed the council to avoid an immediate decision while indicating a need for additional analysis before determining the appropriate departmental placement.

Sponsorship and Advertising on GTV3

A heated discussion arose concerning sponsorship and advertising on GTV3. Councilmember Myers raised concerns that advertising on GTV3 could be perceived as implying endorsement by Councilmembers. This concern prompted broader discussion among council members about the implications of government-sponsored media advertising and the potential conflicts or misunderstandings that could arise from such arrangements.

Approval of Summary

The Committee approved the June 4, 2013 Committee summary. Myers made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Gorton. The motion passed without dissent.

Relationship with the BGADD

This agenda item was deferred to the September 2013 meeting. Kay was the key speaker on this matter.

The discussion could not proceed as planned due to the absence of BGADD officials. No vote was taken on this item.

Moving Human Resources Out of the Law Department

The Committee discussed the placement of the Division of Human Resources within the Law Department, examining whether this arrangement was appropriate and identifying potential concerns.

Key Participants

The discussion involved Committee members Graham, Gorton, Beard, Clarke, Kay, and Myers.

Discussion and Concerns

The Committee raised concerns about potential conflicts that could arise from having Human Resources situated under the Law Department. Members indicated that a review of this arrangement was necessary to determine whether a different organizational structure would be more effective.

Outcome

The Committee passed a motion unanimously to defer the matter and keep the issue under Committee review. The motion specifically directed further study on the feasibility and desirability of creating a separate Department of Human Resources, rather than maintaining the current placement within the Law Department.

Procedures for Underwriting or Sponsoring One of Our Facilities or Parks

Geoff Reed and Roger Daman presented a draft policy establishing procedures for underwriting and sponsoring facilities and parks. The presentation outlined a comprehensive framework for managing naming rights, recognition opportunities, and fundraising partnerships.

Key Discussion Topics

The Committee discussed several important elements of the proposed policy:

• Naming rights and recognition – How sponsors would receive acknowledgment for their contributions
• Off-site recognition – Opportunities for sponsor visibility beyond the physical facility or park
• Temporary signage – Guidelines for temporary recognition during sponsorship periods
• Fundraising capacity – The organization's ability to solicit and manage sponsorship agreements

Staffing Needs

A significant point of discussion centered on the need for a full-time development professional to manage the underwriting and sponsorship program effectively. This position would be essential for implementing the new procedures and maintaining sponsor relationships.

Committee Action

The Committee approved the draft policy and requested additional materials for further review:

• A strikethrough version showing changes from any previous draft
• A clean final draft incorporating all approved modifications

The Committee members participating in the discussion included Reed, Daman, Beard, Scutchfield, Myers, Brown, Lane, Gorton, Akers, and Kay.

Items Referred to Committee

The Committee addressed items referred for discussion and action. The Committee confirmed that the first two items on the referral list would be taken up during the September 10 meeting:

• Relationship with BGADD
• Procedures for Underwriting or Sponsoring

Councilmember Akers requested the inclusion of an additional item on the agenda: Usage Agreements with the Division of Parks & Recreation.

The item was approved.